Index device



Ud. M, 1924. LMLTZSU J. H fRAND INDEX DEVICE Filed Deo. 25. 1923 v WwymdM/M all Patented @et lei, i924.

,Innnnmisrarns Jail/ins n. RAND, or Nonrrr roNawANna, New vonk.

INDEX nevica.

Application filed December 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,644.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. RAND, a citizen of the United States' of America, and resident of North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Index Devices, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to visible indices of the type in which index slips' are held at their ends under the overhanging flanges of a holder adapted to hold a series of slips in edge to edge alignment. While the invention is applicable to indices in which the slips are in the form o-f rails carrying index cards or sheets, it is particularly applicable to indices in which the indicia is carried directly onthe slips and the invention will therefore be described as applied to the latter type. `A typical use of such slips is in telephone exchanges `where the name, ad dress and telephone number of a subscriber is carried by each slip.

Indices of this type are used where individual changes are more or less frequent and it is therefore essential that the slips may be changed quickly and easily. When a slip is removed for replacement or correction the slips thereabove tend to slide down and ll the gap. To avoid the neces-` sity` of restoring the displaced slips, and also to prevent the slips from becoming accidentally dislodged, in has been proposed to make the slip-holding flanges flexible and to make the channels formed thereby sonief what narrower than the thickness of the slips, whereby the flanges yieldingly grip the ends of the slips and hold the slips in position. This introduces a di'lficulty in inserting the ends of the slips beneath the flanges since the paper slips: are lusually thin and easily bent and the endsfrequently become mutilated by engagement with the edges of the flanges, `this difficulty being particularly troublesome in the case of steel flanges having thin edges which are relan tively sharp. Ordinarily the flange is llexed outwardly to permit the insertion of a new slip but this takes time and patience and frequently results in the dislodgment or disarrangement of the adjacent slips.

According to the present invention the slips are so constructed that they may be readily inserted beneath the flanges, even when the channels have a transverse dimension less than the thickness of the slips and when the edges ofthe flanges are relatively sharp; the flanges need not be flexed outwardly to insert a new slip; and after insertion the slips are gripped by the flanges to hold them snugly in position.

@ne embodiment of the invention is il`- i' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top edge view of l an improved index elementconstructed in accordance with the present invention; p

Fig. i 1s a fragmentary horizontal section through the frame of Fig. l but to larger" scale showing the first step in positioning one of the improved index elements there in; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a later stage in the process of positioning the index element in the frame.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates an index frame or panel herein shown as provided with a rod 2. extending along one edge and projecting at top and bottom to form the upper and lower pintle y members 3 and 3a, respectively, by means of which the frame may be supported to swing in a suitable standard. While the frame herein shown is of the type adapted to swing, the invention is not thus restricted but is applicable to frames or holders of anyof the usual types.

The frame herein shown consists of sheet metal and is provided at its lateral edges with inwardly turned steel flanges i and 5 which define opposed channels 6. The frame may be furnished with such flanges upon one or both faces, and is thus adapted to support one or more series of independent removable index elements, the opposite endsf of which Iare positioned within the respective channels 6.

Usually such index. elements, indicated at 7 in Fig. 2, are made of cardboard, heavy paper,\or the like, and are provided with substantially square ends. The index elements preferably have a thickness somewhat greater than the width of the channel 6 in order that they may have the requisite frictional bearing against the walls of the channel to support them. in proper position, but

as the flangesare thinl their edges tend to .cut into' or bruise the ends of the index element'when it is attempted to force the latter into position. Unless the index element is properlyentered in the channel at the lirst attempt this action of the flange tends to split or splay the end of the index element as shown at 8 so that itis substantially imypossible thereafter to pushy it' into the channel and it must be discarded.` In accordancewith'the present invention thefimpr'oved index element indicated at 9 i 'n Fig. 3, which may be made of any of the usual stiffly resilient materials such kfor example as cardboard, is bevelled` at its ends, ypifeferably upon its rear face'as indicated at l0, so'thatits extremities taper in thickl shown in Fig. 4, thee openingof thechannel, the index elementv being disposed substantially as shown in k said'1i'gure5 the index elen'ient is then swung about 'its ends las a. pivot Yin` thedirection `shown by the arrow l1y in Figif and is 'gradually pushed vinto the channel untily it f assumes a position such as shown at 9a in igs'and 5. The opposite end ofthe index i element isy then inserted in the other channel 4` substantially the same manner, the necessary angle of inclinationhfor entering :its otherend being obtained ,by flexing the index element. The tapered yend of the index element is less in length than the width vof and 4rear.sur-faces of its kbody portion withchannel so that the elementv isv securely retained' inthe channel whennally posi-k tioned by engagement of the parallel front the-walls ofthe channel. It is thus possible to removeand reinsert the index elements substantially anunlimited number of times without difliculty or damage.

v A distinct advantage results from bevellingr thel strips on the back finsteadvof the front, viz, the edge's,` of the channel flangesy havethistendency to mutilate the. slips in inserting' the latter since the flanges engage l thegsmoothfront faces of the slips instead of thebevelled surfaces, in which latter ease tl'ieb'evelled surface might be spflayed or split sincethey extend oblique-ly across the grain or lib-re of thercard.

l By making the distance between the bevels at the opposite endsofeach slip somewhat greater than the distance between the edges of the flanges, the flanges o-verlap portions Vof maximum thickness and thereby yield- `elled ends of such slip being disposed within the respective marginal channels ofk the frame.

2. An index comprising a substantially rigid frame having flanges at its opposite edges defining opposed channels, and an elongate slip of stifl' but resilient material, the ends of the slip taperin yin thickness to facilitate insertion beneath t e flanges ofthe frame.

3. An index comprising a fran'ie having flexible marginal flanges and an elongate slip of resilient material of a thickness somewhat greater than the corresponding dimension of the space beneath the lian es when the flanges are not flexed outwar y, they ends of sadslip beingtapered toward their extremities and being yieldingly gripped bythe flange, the distance between the. tapered ends being greater than the distance between the flanges so that the flanges grip? portions of the slipof full thickness.

4.`An index comprising a frame having opposed marginal channels and an elongate slip of resilient material bearing indexing symbols upon its front face and having its rear surface chamfered off adjacent to its extremities tofacilitate insertion of its opposite ends in the respectivey channels.

5. An index slipl for insertion beneath the side flanges of any index holder, the slip being bevelled at the ends to facilitate insertion in the holder and the'distance between the bevels being greater than the distance between the edges of the side flanges.

, '6. Anindex slip for insertion beneath the sidev flanges of an index holder, the back yof the slip being bevelled at the ends to facilitate insertion in the holder.

vSigned by meat Boston, 'Massachusetta this 18th dayof December, 1923-.

JAMESH. RAND. 

